Boy reportedly sexually assaulted on Durham school bus

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Durham, N.C. — Durham police are investigating a report that a group of older children sexually assaulted a 5-year-old boy recently on a bus carrying students home from W.G. Pearson Magnet Elementary School.

Police Chief Jose Lopez said in a statement Wednesday that he won't comment on the investigation but that detectives with the department's Special Victims Unit are handling the case "with great care and sensitivity to find out what happened."

"As warranted, appropriate law enforcement action will be taken and support services provided to help ensure the welfare of all minors involved," Lopez said.

Qué Pasa recently reported the alleged Sept. 11 incident after the boy's mother contacted the Raleigh newspaper because she was frustrated and concerned that the school wasn't responding appropriately to the complaint.

The woman told WRAL News that her son was in the back of the bus with a group of 10-year-olds – whom he did not know – who took his shoes, pulled down his pants and then assaulted him.

Two girls on the bus saw what happened, the mother said, and they told the boy's grandmother when she picked him up from the bus stop.

The mother added that when she went to the school, administrators' responses seemed to be more focused on the boy being in the back of the bus.

Chrissy Pearson, chief communications officer for Durham Public Schools, confirmed in a statement that school administrators have talked to the child's parents and that they are investigating the details.

But she would not elaborate, citing student privacy concerns and the fact that the investigation is still active.

"Any allegations of this sort are taken very seriously, and our full attention is given to investigating this thoroughly," she said. "Any time one of our students reports misconduct on a school bus or anywhere else, we act quickly, as our students' health and safety are our top priority."

Karina NeyraOct 1, 2014

Another case http://qpmn.us/pY

julieg0498Sep 29, 2014

It's a FIVE YEAR old who was forced to do a disgusting act because of 3 wrong disciplined children. Of course a 5year old cannot do much to 3 ten year olds who had words to threat with. If these kids have already acted the way they did, imagine what they can do in the future.In another article I read that two of the three 10 year old boys had their foot over the kindergartener's neck and another on his stomach. Imagine how the little kid will live his life now .. It was just the beginning of childhood when kids are not supposed to feel worried and scared. Riding the bus is something parents cant control because of the job hours. They can't be there to assist as a parent, it is the bus driver who should try to be responsible. But it is true that the bus could have been paying attention to the road , some bus drivers are not as observant (wrong)and probably drives the high seated bus, which is normally high for elementary schoolers.And you may wonder what about the kids that were near..

678devilishSep 25, 2014

As a parent, I would just take my child to school and back home. That way I know my child will be safe. Of course this child should have been safe on this bus; but he was not. Are they going to handle the kids that sexual harrass him? They should.

goldeagleSep 25, 2014

View quoted thread

After reading the N & O version of this 'alleged' incident, I think something is being taken out of context here - doubt seriously that this could have taken place as described - also that a 5 year old would have described it as such. This 'could not' have been done 'that' secretly on a bus - sounds like 'mom' is seeking attention.

— Posted by luvstoQ

Don't know anything about the incident, or the mother's motives, or any of that, but don't tell me what can and can't happen on a bus.

Back in the day many years ago when everybody was well behaved (hah), there were cigarettes, occasionally pot, water fights at year's end (with bus driver participation), a girl who zipped down her pants on a dare, and another who undid her shirt. One kid once had me in an arm lock around the neck. And a bus driver once buzzed a bicyclist. However, these were mostly isolated incidents, except for the water fights and cigarettes. Don't know if anybody ever got in real trouble over it.

Let the cops do their investigation and the government decide how it wants to run its school system. I'm just not into teaching kids that that sort of thing is ok, normal, or appropriate.

ptrrrk1Sep 25, 2014

View quoted thread

That's your solution, really? It sounds like mom should have taken you to school more often

— Posted by SAY 'WHAT" ONE MORE TIME!

It's also a 300 million dollar budget line item on the state… Remove buses or have each family pay to use them….

SAY 'WHAT" ONE MORE TIME!Sep 25, 2014

View quoted thread

Take the buses from the schools and make parents responsible for getting their offspring to school.

— Posted by xylem01

That's your solution, really? It sounds like mom should have taken you to school more often

katgotyertongueSep 25, 2014

After reading about the incident in the N&O, I am seriously questioning that this happened at all. What the Mother described could not have passed unobserved by other bus riders and the bus driver. At the bus stop..possibly, but not on the bus.

xylem01Sep 25, 2014

Take the buses from the schools and make parents responsible for getting their offspring to school.

goldeagleSep 25, 2014

News and Observer does indeed have more details.

Not clear if reports are accurate, however.

I'm not sure there is appropriate law enforcement action. Merely the result that will occur. If they were adults, they could be appropriately charged. Is there video on the bus?

They're a bit young for the general population of the state's prison system. Gang assault. Sexual assault.

I'm not even sure about appropriate behavior for the driver. Take out one or two of them with or without a hand weapon and end the assault on the 5 year old? Or does that become a federal case?

And where did the 10 year olds get their education?

luvstoQSep 25, 2014

HEARD-IT-ALL-BEFORE, why don't you pack your bags and head to another country??? Think any other one is better?? But if you feel that way, better that you go and find out first hand! As for me, I love the USA - faults and all, it's better than at least 95% of the others out there.

I'll take our protected freedoms any day. Schools and parents dropped the ball several years ago when they stopped disciplining students in the way they should be. Wasn't this kind of happening on the busses when I grew up as rowdy behavior wasn't tolerated on the busses or at school.